Not too much activity going on here. I wish it were more lively like it used to be years ago. People seem to be busier and don't have time for play.
I'm still here but don't post as often.

I've had more time to get outside now so I won't be here as much during the warm weather. During the cold and the last few days it was raining and raining so not much to do outside so I was reading here a lot. Probably will slow down as most of us have cabin fever and are anxious to get out of the house!

I think you're right, it has slowed down. I still check it out several times a day though.

Yes, there is a lull.

I miss seeing so many posters whom I got to "know" here. I have had so much support and hope I may have provided some support to others. It is sad to me to see so few posts. Hope everyone is well and maybe just busy.

I never could get logged in, and finally had to "reinvent" myself today in order to post. Houzz has done a number on the KT...

I am glad that I am not the only one who thinks it is slower here after the change to Houzz. And I think that it is more difficult to become interested in discussions because many folks have to use a different screen name.

I have made MANY attempts to connect here at our 'new home' and it has been nothing but a complicated effort and I have given up. Today, I had my DS spend some time getting me in; only time will tell if I can connect again. I'm annoyed. Once again.

I would not be surprised if many others have faced similar problems and decided to just 'lurk' and be more annoyed by the "FENCE" they have put up so one can only read a few inches of the screen.... and be unable to respond with out the PAINSTAKINGLY effort to set and reset sometimes 20 year old Names and passwords. I was 60 when I started here, I am 80 now and am not liking it. I do not want to use Facebook or some other thing... Gmail or whatever. The Garden Web was successful without being tied to them. When I found out that Houzz "rescued" the GW and KT from going down the tube with no notice, I was grateful and decided to try to join in..... but the many frustrating attempts, and the disappearance of so many of the hundreds of posters that were here makes this not like "home" anymore. I will be checking in to see how this works in the future. ((((HUGS)))) to All, Nanny

Activity slowed on a lot of the boards well before Houzz kept these forums alive. If they had not, we wouldn't be chatting right now.

If anything, we've gotten to see some folks who stepped away for a while.

I could be wrong, but I think on Houzz we see fewer threads on one page than we did at the old site. This could add to the feeling that less is happening.

Also, it might help if we introduced more stimulating topics. Lots of activity on the "Hillary" thread. :-)

Exactly Alisande. The more you contribute, the more will be contributed. I think twenty years ago there just weren't as many options as there are today.

So, it's true that if you see a thread with many responses, it does generate more activity.

It does seem a little slow but I do like the feather that our posts are posted without having to return to the original page and I also like the LIKE feature so I've become adjusted now.

There's a feather? What feather?

I have to admit I'm trying hard to stick around because I don't want to see the transition fail. I learned the new system through trial and error and from all the helpful hints that knowledgeable people generously shared.

nanny98 - I saw you post on another thread. Good to see you spread your wings. Stay please. It's nice to see returning faces.

I too have noticed that many of the regulars are not posting as much as they use to. Not sure why. Occasionally I do like to post something directly to a person, have not found out how to do that yet. I do miss many over the last few years. Time and age might be a factor, but I do hesitate in postings at times due to so many new people.

The biggest solution to that problem is to just post more! Jump in create posts don't hold back. If no one posts then yes it is going to be slow activity. It is also a time of year that people are out and about when the weather is nice. So lets see what you have to show us and tell us we want to kick it up in here! I need some fun!

I can not imagine what problems you are having nanny98. I have not seen anything like you are describing. WE are all happy to help you if you want help in trying to fix your problems and also the great team here from Houzz can actually go into your account and fix things for you if you just ask them to.
What is the fence? I see everything and no fences involved? Do you possibly have your settings for how you view set to one of the other choices there are 3 ways to view here try going up there on the main KT page and right by where it says last activity on the top right there are 3 lines , 2 lines and one line clicking on those 3 choices give you 3 different views here. Try those out and see if that helps.
Once you change your name in your profile, not user name, profile name first name area and type in there what ever you want to show here as your name then go to the bottom and UPDATE/submit it, it is locked in and will not change till you go change it. BUT you must hit the UPDATE/submit button for it to hold. Same with any changes you make.

I bet if you just asked Tamara if she could help you get set up she would be happy to!

I'm not sure what others find so difficult about it. You don't have to use Facebook or anything else; you can steer entirely clear of Houzz sites if you wish.

I didn't like it at first just because of the cold, sterile appearance, but I do like some of the new features.

I guess that many had problems with the sign up process, and that's the fault of Houzz. But don't give up! You can always email gardenweb@houzz.com for one-on-one help from Tamara. She's very responsive, very helpful.

The "sign-up process was, for me, frustrating. Days of "re-setting" and the e-mail replies being "timed-out"....either my server was too slow or overnight was too long so the process had to be re-done over and over, with countless "your name & password" do not match.

I'm here this morning, well nearly noon. It will take some "getting used to" to have 20 to 40 emails from Houzz telling me what has transpired...that's new. I am glad to finally been able to check in, but I bet many others have found it difficult too.

As for the "Fence"! Lately, if you are not a confirmed member (and the sign up drop-down thing offers "Facebook or Gmail) 2/3 of the page is blocked out so that you (a lurker!) can only see a few lines of a post. Just another annoyance, in my opinion, to force folks to "confirm" their membership in HOUZZ.....and to make it uncomfortable to not be a member. Maybe folks do not want to be coerced into joining a site without a period of checking it out. Again, just my opinion.

Nanny98, yes, it has been frustrating, although I didn't have as many problems as you did. The whole set up now does not have the visual appeal that we had before. Too much white space for one thing. But it is this or nothing, so I will stay here. You are one of those whom I have missed, so bear up and keep on keeping on. I remember how you encouraged me when I had to admit I needed a walker!
Sue

I honestly can't imagine how people are having so many issues. It took me about 2 minutes. I wonder if there are some major misunderstandings happening making it needlessly complicated? Or maybe I just got lucky.

Nanny, here's a link to a thread from a few months ago with some tips on how to set up your account, like removing emails if you don't want them. Maybe you will find it helpful.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2829188/new-format-tips-and-tricks?n=40

chi83, were you a Houzz participant in addition to GardenWeb? Because the only way I got on was through that username.

I was already a Houzz member. I had to add numbers to my sign in name to elevate confusion. Other than that, I am now used to the way things look.

I also like the edit feature now.

I'm not sure about the feather?

Rob, no, I had never used Houzz before.

Dang. Wonder what the hang-up is? I was never been able to use my GardenWeb stuff, just Houzz.

Nanny, to make it easy, how about posting to Tamara, with her name in the subject box, telling her you need help. She has always been tremendously helpful to me, never assumes I know what I'm doing, and will help you through it with a virtual smile. I'm so very glad she made the transition with us!

Yes, the "fence" thing that appears when I first google is very annoying--sometimes I don't bother signing in if I don't have anything to post and now this isn't an option. I've seen it in the last couple of days.

Hmm, that's strange that everyone is having unique experiences trying to do the same thing. I guess I did get lucky with a straightforward process.

Nanny there's no need to get those emails it's very very easy to stop that. Reading the linked post will give you lots of tips we all learned early on. I had never used houzz but I was able to get everything set up right away for my account with no problems or changes. I still use the exact same favorite bookmark I had saved for kt years ago and it brought me right here to the new kt.

To stop the email go to the top right corner and click on your houzz or click on your own name on the kt then on edit profile then on the left side you will find several options to click on, go through all of those and choose the settings you prefer, if you want no emails just select never or no on the selections there. I went through each section and set up the way I wanted it and I have never had any emails. I did select to allow others to message me. Once you make any changes you must go to the bottom and hit the update /submit button for it to stay.

If you set up a favorite bookmark for the main kt page and save it to your browser favorites all you have to do in the future is just click on that favorite kt bookmark and you will be right here at the kt. I have all of my regular favorite sites this way.

I haven't found this new site difficult at all to get used to. Once you log in, it's very easy to change your username what you want everyone to see, to whatever you want.

I kept the white background, I've gotten used to it.

I'm one that has pretty much dropped away from this forum. One of the biggest reasons is the thread several weeks ago when people were talking about their pet peeves. Poor grammar and misspelled words were one of the biggest things some couldn't stand. I know my grammar isn't the best and I sometimes have trouble spelling. I just don't feel comfortable posting like I used to.

Please don't let that intimidate you, Jkayd. I sincerely doubt many people are bothered by spelling/grammar errors or typos on a friendly public message board like the KT. I have worked as a writer and editor, and these sorts of errors jump right out at me in advertising and in local news broadcasts. But most of the time I don't even notice them online or in emails. I've been known to inadvertently make some of these mistakes myself. I'll bet most people would say the same thing.

I didn't have any trouble getting in either. Sorry for those of you that did. Truth is the KT has been slow for several years. So many people left due to all the pettiness that seemed to prevail in so many posts. It's sad. We can all encourage those people to return..I have. One thing I don"t like is that now politics & religion are now allowed. I am sure this will end up messy in the future.

Sometimes politics and religion make for strange bedfellows, but they sure do provide a diversion from some of the inane postings!

Jkayd, please don't let the complaints and criticisms of a few to deter you from joining in and giving your thoughts and opinions.

When some poster admit to, "long time lurker, first time poster", I just don't get it. The fun of this place is to be able to vent your feelings, give your opinion and get feedback. It should be a place where everyone feels comfortable.

Along those lines, I once vented something that very minor, I wanted to know opinions about going to a neighbor's son's graduation party. We received an evite just a week before. I was taken aback getting an invitation so late for a party that was obviously planned so far ahead. Anyhoo, one poster felt I shouldn't have posted something so trivial! But over all I liked the advise I received and made my choice accordingly.

I have the Kitchen Table bookmarked. On the day of the transition I opened up my bookmarks clicked onto Kitchen Table and I was here. That was it. Same name, same place, different look.

And ellendi sometimes it is the most "trivial" things that give us the most confusion. I remember your post and thought it was a really good question.

Thanks Blfenton.

I know for me that I don't post that often because not that many things interest me. I don't care what people eat for dinner, or care to play a name game, etc. I don't care if people like to post things like that, it just doesn't interest me. The things that get my attention are things a little more controversial, interesting, etc. Sometimes when I access the KT it's the same thing but just a different day. I'm not trying to insult anyone, just explain why I don't post very often.

Solve that problem by Starting a New topic for discussion! If you are interested in it likely others will be too. Be pro active! Go for it it might do well or not get a lot of replies but keep trying that's the only way to help the forum move forward.

I echo what Raven said. There are a number of topics that are posted daily.....everything from photos, quizzes and recipes.

By all means start a thread on something that interests *you*. If you don't participate on what's being discussed, fine, but don't blame the KT for being slow, not interesting, etc without putting in an effort yourself to change it.

Jasdip - if you're referring to my comments, show me where I "blamed" anyone for my lack of interest in what is posted on the KT. I'm not "blaming" anyone, just stating my thoughts on why I don't often post.

I also havn't been here for awhile,although I still have the same name that I had on the Gw.I didn't like the photo posting,although I finally figured it out after awhile.

Like the op,i don't like all the white space either.

I also moztly pozt at the cactus and succulent forum,cottage gardens,calif gardens and several other gardening sites.

I've also tried to get the sewing forum going,but I think that is a lost cause.

Now with better weather,i'll be in the yard/gardens more,so my time will be limited.

Nice to see you all again.

Kathi

Sephia, I wasn't singling you or anyone out. I just think that anyone who complains that the site is slow just jump in and start talking. Everyone can work together and make things interesting.

42 responses to Slow Activity. That's pretty good. :)